Reversible valve assembly for pumps



y 10, 1960 Y B. C..RUCKER 2,935,995

REVERSIBLE VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR PUMPS Filed June 9, 1959 Benjamin 6. Rue/(er 1N VENTOR UnitedStates Patent REVERSIBLE VALVE ASSEMBLY non PUMPS Benjamin C. Rucker, Franklin, La, assignor of ten percent to Lee Beckham, Eunice, and fifteen percent to Forrest B. Qhessher, New Orleans, La.

Application June 9, 1959, Serial No. 819,150

5 Claims. (Cl. 137-32904) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 662,097, which was filed on May 28, 1957. Accordingly, the benefit of the filing date of the parent application is claimed for all subject matter common to this application and the parent application. 7

This invention relates to improvements in pump valve assemblies for reversible valves and more particularly relates to a valve assembly specifically useful in mud pumps of rotary drilling rigs for oil Wells and the like.

In the rotary method of drilling, circulation of drilling mud through the mud stern under relatively high pressures by mud pumps is necessary in order that the drill may continue its functioning. Since the drilling mud circulated by the mud pumps unavoidably contains foreign particles, both because of the inclusion of mud additives to the drilling mud and because of foreign matter entrained by the drilling mud during the drilling operation which has escaped removal from the mud prior to recirculation, attrition and Wear of the valve and valve seat as well as valve stems of the mud pump are extremely great. The replacing of such worn valves, seats and stems require a temporary shut-down of the mud pump in order to effect repairs. This condition is frequently very undesirable because of the cost of replacing the valves, valve seats and stems as well as the loss of time during which the pump is out of operation.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a construction for avoiding the expense and delay of such repairs by providing a reversible valve having a pair of,

identical valve surfaces which may be readily reversed when desired. Further, the valve stems are removable from the valve so that they may be individually replaced. Alternatively, the valve stems could be made immovable with reference to the valve, but this would be at the expense of the advantageous feature of being capable of individually handling the valve stems when they require replacement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reversible valve assembly for pumps which will permit the valve body to be reversed whereby the valve seat in the valve assembly housing, the same valve closing spring and the same valve guiding means and sealing means may be employed.

There are a number of advantages in having the valve stems removable from the valve body, although it is to be clearly understood that the invention also contemplates integral valve stems. When the detachable valve stems are used the reversible valve may be purchased less the guide stem or stems if the customer so wishes. Further the customers will be enabled to purchase the reversible valve with the seat and choose the particular stem or stems of correct diameter and length for his particular make and model of pump. The customer will be able to have on hand extra stems to replace the old worn stems, since the stems are the first part of the assembly to become objectionably worn. Manufacturers will be able to standardize the size of valves and seats 2,935,995 Patented May 10, 1960 for most pumps currently in use, and the only thing that will be changed is that a variety of stems with different diameters will be made available. Finally, the stem guides in the seats could also be standardized thereby materially reducing manufacturing cost.

' These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in vertical section through a portion of a mud pump showing a portion of the valve chamber together wtih the valve seating assembly and the valve body operatively disposed therein.

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the various components of the reversible valve assembly in accordance with this invention.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the valve seat assembly.

In 'Figure 1 there is a portion 10 of a valve chamber in which valve set assembly 12 is disposed, together with a reversible valve 14. Closure plug 16 by which access may be had to the chamber for removing or reversing the valve is illustrated, but the valve outlet is not shown, this being conventional.

The valve seat assembly 12 comprises a hollow conical body 20 whose conical exterior surface is fixedly secured in any desired manner in the conical surface of a passage 22 in the valve chamber 10. The body 20 has an annular seat 24 which is a segment of a sphere and which is the valve seating surface of the assembly. Upon the horizontal surface which is adjacent to the seat 24, the body 20 is provided with an annular groove 26 in which is removably secured the annular depending rib 2.8 of a resilient ring 3% having an upstanding rim 32. The ring 30 is clamped to the body 20 by a retainer ring 34 having a depending annular rib 36 engaging the resilient ring 30, suitable fasteners 38 extending through apertures 40 in the retainer ring 34 serving to retain these parts in assembled relation.

Extending across the open lower end of the conical body 20 is a cross member 42 having a tubular sleeve 44 disposed centrally thereof and constituting a guide sleeve as set forth hereinafter.

The upper end of the valve chamber 10 is provided with an aperture 50 and a removable closure plug 52 is threaded therein whereby access may be had to the valve chamber for the purpose of removing or reversing the valve assembly. This closure plug is provided with a diametrically disposed passage or bore 54 and aligned with this bore is a depending tubular sleeve 56 which together with the bore constitutes a valve guide means as disclosed thereinafter.

The valve assembly 14 comprises a body 60 having a spherical side surface thus providing reversible valve surfaces 62 and 64, each of which cooperates with the valve seat 24 of the valve body 20.

A pair of aligned valve stems 66 and 68 extend from the opposite sides of the valve body and are respectively slidingly and guidingly received in the sleeve and passage 56, 54 of the closure plug 16 and the guide bushing 44 previously mentioned. Thus, the valve body is mounted and guided for vertical reciprocating movement in the valve chamber.

Although valve stems 66 and 68 may be made integral or otherwise fixed to the valve body, an important advantage is to be obtained and 68 detachably connected to the valve body 60. Each valve stem is identically detachably connected to valve body 60, valve stem 66 connecting means being shown in detail in Figure 2. These means are composed of a by having the valve stems 66 3 threaded end 63 on stem 66, and the threaded bore 65 in valve body 60 on the longitudinal axis of reciprocation thereof. Collar 67 is made integral or otherwise fixed to valve stem 66 at the juncture of the threaded end 63 thereof with a non-threaded portion of the valve stem 66. Consequently, either valve stem or both valve stems 66 and 68 may be removed from the valve body 60 at the will of the maintenance man.

Surrounding the stems 66 and 68, the opposite sides of the valve body 60 are provided with circular recesses or chambers 70 and 72. A valve closure spring in the form of a compression spring 76 surrounds a valve stem 66 or 68, rests in a recess 70 or 72, and at its other end abuts against a wear plate 78 which surrounds the tubular sleeve 56 and bears against the end of the closure plug 16. It will be observed that the diameter of the opening 50 is greater than that of the body 60 whereby when the closure plug 16 is removed, the valve assembly may be removed through this opening for the purpose of replacing or reversing the same.

In operation, one of the valve seating surfaces 62 or 64 is adapted to be urged against the valve seating surface 24 in the valve seat housing member 20 by the spring 76. The resilient sealing member 30 presses against the side of the valve body thereby preventing leakage of fluid past the same in the closed position of the valve. It will thus been seen that the valve body is free to be moved from its seat by the application of a fluid pressure below the valve, and when this fluid pressure is released the valve will be again returned to its seat by the spring 76.

When the seating surface 62 or 64 upon the valve body is worn to such an extent that the same is no longer usable, the plug 16 may be removed and the valve reversed thereby presenting a fresh start. It will be observed that during this replacement or reversal of the valve, no member need be replaced other than the valve itself, since the same spring means, guide means and valve seat are employed;

When it is necessary to replace the annular sealing means 30, the retainer plate 34 can be readily removed and a new resilient sealing member may be then inserted in the valve seat housing. Further, the valve stems 66 and 68 are easily removed and replaced to achieve the benefits especially discussed herein.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described,

and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A reversible valve assembly for a pump comprising r a. valve chamber having a valve seat assembly and a valve disposed therein, said valve seat assembly including a conical housing having a substantially flat top surface and a spherical valve seat surface extending downwardly from said top surface, an annular resilient sealing member disposed in a recess in said top surface and having a sealing surface forming a spherical upward continuation of said valve seat surface, said valve comprising a partially spherical body having an upper and lower spherical seating surface selectively cooperable with the valve seat surface and the sealing surface of said sealing member in reversed positioning of said valve, aligned oppositely extending stems on said valve body, said stems and valve body having means operatively associated therebetween for detachably securing said stems in axial alignment with each other and on the axis of reciprocatory movement .4 of said valve body, aligned oppositely extending valve guides in said valve chamber receiving said stems, and means on said fiat top surface and partially overlying said sealing member for retaining said sealing member in place.

2. A reversible valve assembly for a pump comprising a valve chamber having a valve seat assembly and a valve disposed therein, said valve seat assembly including a conical housing having a substantially fiat top surface and a spherical valve seat surface extending downwardly from said top surface, an annular resilient sealing member disposed in a recess in said top surface and having a sealing surface forming a spherical upward continuation of said said valve seat surface, said valve comprising a partially spherical body having an upper and lower spherical seating surface selectively cooper-able with the valve seat surface and the sealing surface of said sealing member in reversed positioning of said valve, aligned oppositely extending stems on said valve body, said stems and valve body having means operatively associated therebetween for detachably securing said stems in axial alignment with each other and on the axis of reciprocatory movement of said valve body, aligned oppositely extending valve guides in said valve chamber receiving said stems, and means on said flat top surface and partially overlying said sealing member for retaining said sealing member in place, said means comprising an annular flat ring having a bottom annular retaining rib engaging said resilient sealing member and holding said resilient sealing member recessed in said top surface.

3. The reversible valve assembly for a pump as defined in claim 2 wherein there is a shoulder on each valve stem limiting the extent of penetration of a part of said valve stem in said valve body and bearing against a surface of said valve body to form a locking abutment therewith.

4. The reversible valve assembly for a pump as defined in claim 2 wherein there is a shoulder on each valve stem intermediate the ends thereof for limiting the extent of penetration of a part of said valve stem in said valve body and bearing against a surface of said valve body to form alocking abutment therewith, and said means detachably connecting said valve stems to said valve body including threaded ends on each valve stem.

5. A reversible valve assembly for pumps comprising a valve chamber having a valve seat assembly and a valve therein, said valve seat assembly including a conical housing having a substantially flat top surface and a spherical valve seat surface extending downwardly from said top surface, an annular rubber sealing member disposed in a recess in said top surface and having a sealing surface forming a spherical upward continuation of said valve seat surface, said valve comprising a spherical body having upper and lower spherical seating surfaces selectively cooperable with the valve seat surface and the sealing sur-, face of said sealing member in reversed positioning of said valve, aligned oppositely extending stems on said body, opposed guides in said valve chamber receiving said stems, and an annular flat ring removably secured on said flat top surface and partially overlying said sealing member to retain said sealing member in place and having a bottom annular retaining rib engaging said sealing member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,191,481 Scoville July 18, 1916 1,380,415 Putnam June 7, 1921 1,947,071 Walton Feb. 13, 1934 1,957,998 Finefrock May 8, 1934 1,963,684 Shimer June 19, 1934 

